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Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize as Sweden's Greta Thunberg misses out

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize as Sweden's Greta Thunberg misses out
Chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee Berit Reiss-Andersen announces the 2019 laureate. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / TT

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was on Friday awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve his country's conflict with bitter foe Eritrea, the Nobel Committee said.

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Abiy was honoured "for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea," the jury said.

The announcement of Abiy as this year’s Peace laureate was made in Oslo on Friday morning.

The award of the honour to Abiy means that Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who had been the bookmaker’s favourite to receive the honour, misses out.

In a little more than a year, the young climate activist has galvanised millions of young people around the world to take part in demonstrations to raise awareness for action on climate change.

But the Nobel Committee opted to give the peace honour to Abiy, who has had a major impact on resolving regional conflict.

In an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS in August, Thunberg stressed that while the award would be "a recognition for this movement," she and her supporters weren't "doing this to get awards and prizes."

READ ALSO: Greta Thunberg unlikely to win Nobel Peace Prize despite good odds, experts say

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